DV, OV, and EV Certificates

Domain validated or DV certificates are the most common type of SSL certificate. They are verified using only the domain name. Typically, the CA exchanges confirmation email with an address listed in the domain’s WHOIS record. Alternatively, the CA provides a verification file which the owner places on the website to be protected. Either method confirms that the domain is controlled by the party requesting the certificate.

Organization validated or OV certificates require more validation than DV certificates, but provide more trust. For this type, the CA will verify the actual business that is attempting to get the certificate.The organization’s name is also listed in the certificate, giving added trust that both the website and the company are reputable.

Extended validation or EV certificates provide the maximum amount of trust to visitors, and also require the most effort by the CA to validate.extra documentation must be provided to issue an EV certificate.As with OV, EV lists the company name in the certificate itself.